The Day of Arafah

The Day of Arafah is an important day in the Islamic calendar. It falls on the 9th day of Dhul-Hijjah, which is the twelfth and final month of the Islamic lunar calendar.

The Day of Arafah is the day when Muslim pilgrims on Hajj gather at the plain of Arafat, which is located about 20 kilometers southeast of the holy city of Mecca. This is considered the most important part of the Hajj pilgrimage, and it is on this day that pilgrims must stand on the plain of Arafat from noon until sunset.

The Day of Arafah is also significant for Muslims who are not on Hajj. It is recommended to fast on this day as it is considered a way to expiate sins of the previous year and prepare for the year ahead. Muslims also spend the day in prayer and supplication, seeking forgiveness and mercy from Allah.

In summary, the Day of Arafah is a day of great significance for Muslims, whether they are on Hajj or not. It is a day of repentance, forgiveness, and supplication, and an opportunity to seek closeness to Allah.

Things to Do on the Day of Arafah

1. Fasting on the Day of Arafah:

The Day of Arafah fasting is highly encouraged and recommended for those not going on Hajj.

“Fasting on the Day of Arafah expiates the sins of the past year and the coming year.” (Muslim)

2. DU’AA OF ARAFAH: Saying this dua for the day of Arafah:

The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said of the Day of Arafah dua:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “The best invocation on the day of Arafat, and the best of all the invocations I ever offered or other holy Prophets before me ever offered is: “There is no god but Allah: He is Unique ; He hath no partner, the whole universe is for Him and for Him is the praise, and He hath power over all things.” [Tirmidhi]

In another Hadith the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Apart from the day of the Battle of Badr there is no day on which the Shaitan is seen to be more humiliated, more rejected, more depressed and more infuriated, than on the day of Arafat, and indeed all this is only because of beholding the abundance of descending mercy (on the day) and Allah’s forgiveness of the great sins of the servants.“ [Mishkat]

لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له ، له الملك ، وله الحمد ، وهو على كل شيء قدير

 3. Making Tahleel, Takbeer, Tahmeed and Tasbeeh:

It is a Sunnah of our Prophet (PBUH) to recite the Tahleel, Takbeer, and Tahmeed as many times as possible on the day of Arafah, and also on the days of Tashreeq (11th, 12^th, and 13th of Dhul Hijjah).

Tahleel is to say “Laa ilaaha il-lal-laah”

Takbeer is to say “Allahu Akbar”

Tahmeed is to say “Alhamdulillaah”

Tasbeeh is to say “Subhanallaah”.

4. Seek forgiveness from Almighty Allah:

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:

“On this day, Allah, the most Exalted, descends to the nearest heaven, and He is proud of His servants on the earth and says to those in heavens, look at My servants, they have come from far and near, with hair dishevelled and faces covered with dust, to seek my Mercy. Even if their sins are as much the sand or the froth of the sea, I shall forgive them.”